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The Mystery of Post-Inflation Stability: Exploring Economic Uncertainty
Inflation, a sneaky force eating away at our financial stability, makes us wonder: what happens after its rampage? Do things settle back to normal, or are we stuck dealing with the aftermath? Inflation is simply prices creeping up over time, quietly changing our financial landscape. Think of your favorite café inching up its prices or […].....»»
Dovish Powell lifts markets to historic highs
Last week, US equities reached new all-time highs, thereby lifting global stock markets. This came on the back of Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell’s dovish policy statement. In that speech, Powell touted considerable progress in bringing down inflation, notwithstanding the bumps in the road toward the two percent target......»»
March inflation may pick up amid high food prices
Inflation likely accelerated for the second straight month in March, mainly driven by high rice prices, prompting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep borrowing costs unchanged at its next policy review in April, analysts said......»»
Solon sues ex-president Duterte over threat to kill her
"Though factually baseless and clearly malicious, I cannot merely dismiss Respondent Duterte’s red-tagging and accompanying grave threats as either figurative, joking, or otherwise benign considering that many victims of extrajudicial killings, illegal arrest and detentions, excommunicado confinements, forced disappearances and other analogous attacks were called or labeled 'communists,' members or supporters of the NPA, “terrorists,” and like labels before they were attacked." The post Solon sues ex-president Duterte over threat to kill her appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
The solitary kidney
In recent news, a basketball player had to have his kidney removed after sustaining an injury during a game. While unfortunate to lose a kidney, most people with just one kidney can live healthy, normal lives. There are four main causes of this condition, known as a solitary kidney: 1. Birth defects. Some people can be born with only one kidney, or with two kidneys, but with only one that functions properly. 2. Surgical removal. A kidney may be removed due to severe trauma after an accident (as in the case of the basketball player), a tumor (whether benign or cancer), kidney stones or a severe infection. 3. Kidney donation. Persons who donate a kidney to be transplanted into a family member or friend whose kidneys have failed should have two healthy kidneys. 4. Kidney transplant recipients. Recipients of the kidney transplant have native kidneys that do not work properly and will have only one functioning kidney after the transplant. A solitary kidney may be able to compensate and increase function as well as two healthy kidneys, like having one person doing the job of two people. However, injury to a solitary kidney can cause kidney failure to happen more quickly, making treatment more urgent and needing closer monitoring. Individuals with one kidney may have a slightly increased risk of developing high blood pressure and this can damage blood vessels in the kidneys, reducing their ability to work correctly. You should have your blood pressure monitored at least twice a year and if high blood pressure is present, your blood pressure should be controlled to less than 130/80 mmHg. Having a single kidney has historically been considered a disqualifying condition for contact sports like football, basketball, martial arts, boxing and soccer. Over the years, however, it has been shown that it is reasonable to allow individuals with a single kidney to participate in contact sports, after discussion of the potential risks. Wearing protective gear such as padded vests can help protect the kidney from injury during sports. This can help lessen the risk, but remember that it won’t take away the risk. Here are some tips on how to take care of a solitary kidney. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can overtax the ability of one kidney to function properly. Eat a balanced diet. Have a healthy, balanced diet low in salt, sugar and processed foods. Include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains in your diet. Stay hydrated. Drink enough water to maintain good kidney function. Proper hydration also helps prevent kidney stones. Monitor your blood pressure. You should keep your blood pressure within a healthy range because high blood pressure can put extra stress on your kidney. Limit alcohol and caffeine. Don’t smoke. [caption id="attachment_181177" align="aligncenter" width="1706"] Photograph courtesy of Pexels/Cottonbro StudioDon’t smoke.[/caption] Be careful with pain relievers. Long-term use or excessive dosage of medications like ibuprofen, mefenamic acid and etoricoxib can harm the kidneys. Take these medicines only as prescribed by your doctor. Medication awareness. Inform your healthcare provider about your solitary kidney when discussing medications, as some drugs can be hard on the kidneys. They can adjust prescriptions accordingly. Exercise. Engaging in regular physical activity to promote overall well-being is still a good idea, but take precautions to protect your kidney. Regular check-ups. See your doctor regularly to monitor your kidney function and provide guidance on managing your health. Periodic blood and urine tests can help to detect any issues early so that they can be managed right away. Treat bladder and kidney infections. If you have any signs of urinary tract infection, such as pain on urination, frequent urination and fever, seek medical help immediately to get the proper treatment. Educate yourself. Learn about your condition and follow your doctor’s advice. Being well-informed about your health can help you make better choices Yes, you can live with one kidney. Together with the guidance of your physician, regular monitoring and a healthy lifestyle, you can help ensure the optimal function of your solitary kidney. The post The solitary kidney appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Why envy when life is beautiful
The Oxford Dictionary defines envy as “a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, talents or luck.” [caption id="attachment_172881" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Write about your feelings. | Photograph Courtesy Of Unsplash/prophsee-journals[/caption] I agree with Oxford, but I would like to add that envy is the desperate feeling of wanting what you do not possess like talents and attributes that creates hostility and depression. Malicious envy is normally associated with negative emotions towards the target of comparison. While benign envy is normally associated with positive emotions towards the target of comparison. While we can see that envy can create chaos in the lives of those who envy and puzzlement on the side of the party being envied, it also has a positive side to it as it can motivate persons to better their aspirations by improving themselves in the areas where they are weak to achieve success. We know that envy is a normal human response when it propels a person to further improve himself or herself. It becomes harmful only when the person becomes obsessed to the point of wanting to harm the envied person. Even the Bible admonishes us to be guided, 1 Peter 2: 1-3 and I quote, “Therefore get rid of all ill will and all deceit, pretenses, envy and slander. Instead, be like a new born baby, desire the pure milk of the word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation since you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Envious people normally feel stressed and overwhelmed as they always feel the need to be better, smarter, richer, or more gifted. Most persons avoid envious people because they become emotional vampires who suck our energy and make us feel so inadequate. The result of which envious people are avoided by many and they have fewer friends. How do we prevent envy? Assess your attributes and if you feel inadequate, work to improve yourself. Journal your envy. Ask yourself why you envy and feel the need to compete with another person. Write about your feelings, own your fears and inadequacies. Once you write about your envy pattern, it will reveal many facets of yourself that will surprise you. This process of catharsis will also heal you and enable you to become better and more accepting of yourself. Share your feelings of envy with someone you trust who only has your best interests at heart like a qualified coach, a psychologist, or a mentor. Listen to the advice and observe how it impacts on your life. Be a realist. Be happy with who you are. Compliment others for their talents. Ask them to be your mentor. Take on a grateful heart. Thank God first, your family second. They who love you for who you are, warts and all. Thirdly, your true friends. You will know who they are through time. This journey of healing to eradicate envy will take time. But with a resolute and firm resolve to change, nothing is impossible. Truly life is beautiful, and it only becomes more beautiful with the way we view life. The post Why envy when life is beautiful appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
When a growing chest isn’t muscle
Many men do exercises and lift weights to increase the strength and definition of their chest muscles. Enlargement in the area, however, can also be due to enlargement of the breast tissue, a condition called gynecomastia. Most men do not report any symptoms, but sometimes the enlargement can be accompanied by tenderness in the area and sensitivity when rubbing against clothing. [caption id="attachment_160533" align="aligncenter" width="619"] CONSULT your physician to get correct diagnosis.| Photograph courtesy of unsplash/alora griffith[/caption] Most breast lumps in men are usually benign enlargements. This can happen in just one or both breasts, and examination by a physician usually reveals a rubbery, movable lump can be felt just under the nipple area, measuring at least 0.5 cm up to 2.0 cm in diameter. If this lump is not felt on examination, the breast may be made up of mostly fatty tissue (also called pseudogynecomastia or lipomastia, which is due to an increase in breast fat and not breast glandular tissue). If physical examination cannot clearly identify between gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia, then a breast ultrasound or mammography should be done. While breast cancer occurs primarily in women, it can also occur in men. Male breast cancer makes up less than one percent of all cases of breast cancer, and is usually detected in men between 60 and 70 years of age. Male breast cancers are one-sided, non-tender, firm-to-hard in texture and not movable under the skin. These are also often found off to the side and not under the nipple. There can also be some dimpling in the skin like an orange peel. Certain hormones produce the usual traits seen in males (testosterone) and females (estrogen), but males also produce a small amount of estrogen while females produce a small amount of testosterone. Gynecomastia can occur when men have estrogen levels that are high or out of balance with testosterone levels. Gynecomastia can occur due to natural hormone changes at different times in a male’s life: Infancy. More than half of newborn boys have enlarged breasts because of the estrogen they received from their mothers while developing in the womb. The gynecomastia goes away at two to three weeks after birth. Puberty. Changing hormone levels can cause breast enlargement, but this usually goes away six months to two years after the start of puberty (usually from 12-14 years old). Mid-life and beyond. Men produce less testosterone as they get older. Older men also tend to have more body fat, causing an increase in estrogen. About one in four men between the ages of 50 and 80 have breast enlargement and usually have no symptoms. Men should see a doctor if you have: Breast tissue that is growing very fast A lump bigger than two to three inches under the nipple or a very hard lump that is off to the side of the nipple Pain and tenderness Nipple discharge in one or both breasts A lump on one of your testicles There are some other medical conditions can cause gynecomastia: Obesity Lack of proper nutrition Tumors in the testicles or adrenal glands Liver disease Thyroid disease Lack of testosterone Kidney failure Certain drugs and substances can also cause gynecomastia, including: Steroids Estrogens Treatments for an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer Diuretics (spironolactone) Medications used for heartburn (metoclopramide) Anti-fungal medications Herbal treatments that contain tea tree oil and lavender Excessive alcohol intake Prohibited substances such as amphetamines and marijuana In most cases of gynecomastia, treatment is often not needed. If there is an underlying condition, gynecomastia often goes away after treatment or once any offending medications are stopped. A medication called tamoxifen or anastrazole can also be used for a short while. If the breast enlargement persists despite these, surgery to reduce the size of the breasts can be done. If you suspect you have gynecomastia, consult your physician to get the correct diagnosis and to find the right treatment. The risk for gynecomastia may also be reduced by not using drugs that include anabolic steroids, amphetamines and marijuana, and by avoiding alcohol or drinking in moderation. The post When a growing chest isn’t muscle appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US stocks rise, extending market rally
Wall Street stocks rose Monday, extending a market rally ahead of major earnings reports and economic releases this week. Major indices opened indecisively but picked up momentum over the day, adding to an equity upswing following last week's benign inflation data and better-than-expected earnings from JPMorgan Chase and other banks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.2 percent at 34,585.35. The broad-based S&P 500 added 0.4 percent at 4,522.79, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 0.9 percent to 14,244.95. This week's calendar includes results from Bank of America, Tesla, and Netflix. "The key to the stock market remains the mega-cap tech trade and many traders won't do any major positioning until we hear from Netflix and Tesla," said Oanda's Edward Moya. Among individual companies, Ford shares dropped 5.9 percent as it announced steep price cuts on its F-150 Lightning electric trucks. The automaker said an upgrade of its Michigan factory will enable it to triple the output of the pickup trucks beginning this fall. But shares of electric vehicle maker Tesla jumped 3.2 percent as it announced that it had produced its first Cybertruck at its huge plant near Austin, Texas. The space-age-like pickup has been eagerly anticipated since Chief Executive Elon Musk first unveiled a prototype in November 2019. The week's economic data releases include US retail sales and housing starts for June. The post US stocks rise, extending market rally appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US stocks steady after last week’s rally
Wall Street stocks were stable early Monday with petroleum-linked shares gaining, extending a positive run following the resolution of the US debt ceiling fight. Major indices had closed last week at multi-month peaks after Congress approved a plan to avert a US debt default after weeks of back and forth between President Biden and congressional Republicans. Stocks had also been lifted by a solid jobs report that kept alive the prospect of a "soft landing" for the world's largest economy after a series of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. The benign trend extended early Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down less than 0.1 percent at 33,750.64. The broad-based S&P 500 added 0.1 percent to 4,288.52, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index also climbed 0.1 percent to 13,259.47. Petroleum-linked shares advanced as oil prices rose following Saudi Arabia's statement that it would cut output by one million barrels a day. Chevron rose about one percent, while Devon Energy and Occidental Petroleum tacked on about two percent. The post US stocks steady after last week’s rally appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US, Microsoft warn cyber actor attacking ‘critical’ infrastructure
The United States, its Western allies and Microsoft said Wednesday that a state-sponsored Chinese cyber actor had infiltrated critical US infrastructure networks, and warned similar activities could be occurring globally. "The United States and international cybersecurity authorities are issuing this joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) to highlight a recently discovered cluster of activity of interest associated with a People's Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored cyber actor, also known as Volt Typhoon," said a statement released by US, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and UK authorities. In a separate statement, Microsoft said Volt Typhoon had been active since mid-2021 and had targeted critical infrastructure in Guam, a crucial US military outpost in the Pacific Ocean. "Microsoft assesses with moderate confidence that this Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises," the statement said. "In this campaign, the affected organizations span the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors. "Observed behavior suggests that the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible." The US and Western security agencies warned in their advisory that the activities involved "living off the land" tactics, which takes advantage of built-in network tools to blend in with normal Windows systems. It warned that the hacking could then incorporate legitimate system administration commands that appear "benign". Microsoft said Volt Typhoon tried to blend into normal network activity by routing traffic through compromised small office and home office network equipment, including routers, firewalls and VPN hardware. "They have also been observed using custom versions of open-source tools," Microsoft said. The director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Jen Easterly, also released a warning related to Volt Typhoon. "For years, China has conducted operations worldwide to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from critical infrastructure organizations around the globe," Easterly said. "Today's advisory, put out in conjunction with our US and international partners, reflects how China is using highly sophisticated means to target our nation's critical infrastructure. "This joint advisory will give network defenders more insights into how to detect and mitigate this malicious activity." China offered no immediate response to the allegations. But it routinely denies carrying out state-sponsored cyber attacks. China in turn regularly accuses the United States of cyber espionage. The post US, Microsoft warn cyber actor attacking ‘critical’ infrastructure appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mammograms should start at 40, says US task force
All women should get mammogram screening for breast cancer starting from age 40, rather than 50, an influential US health body announced Tuesday, a move it said could save thousands of lives. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death for women in the United States, killing around 42,000 women and 500 men, according to official data. Black women are 40 percent more likely to die than white women. The Preventive Services Task Force, a group of independent experts appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services, said that while it previously recommended women in their 40s make individual choices about when to start screening, the new guidance could result in 19 percent more lives being saved. "New and more inclusive science about breast cancer in people younger than 50 has enabled us to expand our prior recommendation and encourage all women to get screened every other year starting at age 40," said the Task Force in a statement. Based on the evidence, the new recommendation was assigned a "Grade B" rating, its second-highest level. The guidance is still considered a draft, with the Task Force posting the evidence it considered on its website and allowing time for public comments and review. American health insurance is required to cover any service USPSTF recommends, regardless of cost. "Ensuring Black women start screening at age 40 is an important first step, yet it is not enough to improve the health inequities we face related to breast cancer," added Task Force vice chair Wanda Nicholson. "In our draft recommendation, we underscore the importance of equitable follow-up after screening and timely and effective treatment of breast cancer and are urgently calling for more research on how to improve the health of Black women." The draft recommendation applies to women at "average risk" of breast cancer, which includes people with a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors such as having dense breasts, which about half of all women do. It doesn't apply to people who have a prior history of breast cancer, who have certain genetic markers that place them at high risk, who have had high-dose radiation therapy from a young age or had high-risk lesions taken on biopsies. The body said there was lingering uncertainty when it came to the benefits and harms of screening people aged 75 and older. "The balance of benefits and harms may shift as women age, but there is very limited research on this age population," it said in a statement. The Task Force said more research was needed to determine whether women with dense breasts should have additional screening with ultrasound or MRI, since mammograms may not work as well for them. Annual screening Sarah Friedewald, chief of breast imaging at Northwestern Medicine, told AFP that while she applauded the Task Force for recognizing age 50 was too late to start screening, "We feel very strongly that it should be every year." "If you increase the interval between the screens, you just allow the cancers to grow larger and potentially less treatable," she said, adding her recommendation was backed by numerous clinical trials and modeling data. When tumors are caught early, they can be surgically removed, without resorting to breast removal. The main risks linked to mammograms, and X-ray pictures of the chest, are anxieties associated with patients getting called back for additional imaging and biopsies that often turn out to be benign. The radiation risk associated with mammography is minimal. The post Mammograms should start at 40, says US task force appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US Supreme Court weighs online harassment against free speech
The Supreme Court took on a sticky social media issue not envisioned by the drafters of the US Constitution Wednesday: are an online stalker's messages that the recipient considers menacing protected by fundamental free speech rights? In a two-hour discussion that dropped references to intimidating lyrics by Eminem and burning crosses to threaten Black people, the justices were asked to decide whether Billy Counterman was correctly jailed in Colorado for the thousands of unwelcome Facebook messages he sent to country singer Coles Whalen over 2014-2016. To Whalen, Counterman's messaging, which persisted even when she blocked him and started new online accounts, left her in a constant state of fear. He wrote her messages such as "die, don't need you", and "staying in cyber life is going to kill you," and indicated that he had physically followed her. The cumulative impact left her frozen and unable to perform after doing hundreds of shows a year and releasing six albums, she said. "I was terrified that I was being followed and could be hurt at any moment; I had no choice but to step back from my dream, a music career that I had worked very hard to build," she said ahead of the hearing. In 2016 she filed a complaint in Colorado courts after learning that Counterman had previously been jailed for threatening to injure several other women. The next year he was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to four and a half years in prison. Limits to free speech That conviction has sparked a case that has libertarians, activists on the right and left, and the media siding with Counterman in his suit against Colorado. Free speech advocates worry upholding his conviction could chill free speech by opening the door to the prosecution of anyone whose speech is perceived as threatening by another person, without proof of intent. Colorado state laws don't require an assessment of the speaker's mental state, so Counterman was convicted without a determination of his intent. That, his attorneys said in their petition to the Supreme Court, violates his free speech rights. They said he did not intend to threaten Whalen, that he suffers from "mental illness," and that Whalen perceived threats that were not real. "Criminalizing misunderstanding is especially dangerous in an age when so much communication occurs on social media," Counterman's attorney John Elwood told the high court Wednesday. The standard for a conviction, he said, is that the person speaking, or messaging, "knew that the words would cause fear." Enabling stalkers? Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser told the court that such a standard would enable abuse of free speech rights. "Requiring specific intent in cases of threatening stalkers would immunize stalkers who are untethered from reality. It would also allow devious stalkers to escape accountability by insisting they meant nothing by their harmful statements," he said. "Ninety percent of actual or attempted domestic violence murder cases begin with stalking," he noted. Even if some of Counterman's messages seemed benign, he said, the threat came in the context and cumulative effect -- making them different from joking threats between friends or family members. But justices queried whether the perception of a threat by the person on the receiving end was enough to deny someone's free speech rights. "We live in a world in which people are sensitive, and maybe increasingly sensitive," said Justice Neil Gorsuch, making reference to trigger warnings announced before university lectures to avoid disturbing some students. Weiser said that the standard for what constitutes a real threat is not determined by "eggshell defendants" who are so fragile as to perceive threats everywhere. Several justices still showed concern that endorsing Colorado's conviction of Counterman would amount to set new limits on free speech. The court should decide the case by the end of June. The post US Supreme Court weighs online harassment against free speech appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gray zone
Is it a benign tool for civilian use, or a military-grade weapon?.....»»
How conservatives share the same bed with fascists
Is conservatism a legitimate ideology? Yes. At its most benign, it aims to maintain the status quo and works for the benefit of the ruling class. At its worst, it supports fascism and actively works against the masses. The post How conservatives share the same bed with fascists appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
T-bill rates ease across the board
The Bureau of the Treasury borrowed more from domestic creditors as Treasury bills fetched lower rates amid strong demand from investors due to the benign inflation environment......»»
Saudi Twitter users grapple with digital authoritarianism
The former Saudi official's tweet expressing condolences over an activist's death seemed benign, but his mysterious disappearance soon afterwards highlighted what observers call the state's "digital authoritarianism"......»»
BSP sees October inflation steady at mid-point range of 2.3%
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Friday inflation rate in October likely remained benign and steady at 2.3 percent, the mid-point of the bank’s forecast range, on slower increases in the prices of rice and fuel......»»
Benign inflation rate gives BSP flexibility
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Thursday inflation in the third quarter remained benign or within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent set by the government......»»
Rates down for reissued T-bonds
Reissued five-year securities yesterday fetched lower rates amid benign inflationary expectations and strong demand from investors, according to the Bureau of the Treasury......»»
Bangko Sentral ready to tweak policy stance
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the benign inflation environment provides monetary authorities enough space to tweak the policy stance if warranted during the pandemic......»»